Queen’s Mill sits on the banks of the River Aire in Castleford. Known locally as Allinson Mills, in its heyday it is thought to be the largest stone grinding mill in the world. Castleford Heritage Trust was formed in 2000 and chaired by co-founder Alison Drake, an enthusiastic champion for the town. In 2013, with the help of a benefactor, the Trust purchased the mill which had been empty for three years and in a state of dereliction. Through the efforts of local volunteers and Trust members, work took place on restoring the mill and fund raising to enable its reuse. Queen’s Mill is now a vital community hub being home to a café, workspaces, coffee roasting enterprise, craft beer shop, tourism information point, employment and family support services, whilst still producing and selling stoneground wholewheat flour on the premises. A £4.8 million landmark footbridge river crossing, designed by Renato Benedetti, adjoins the mill.
The use of the mill continues to evolve over time to accommodate new activities and future plans include creating a local history museum, educational services and a longer-term ambition of restoring the waterwheel to generate electricity.
Dave Weatherson, Head Miller and volunteer
Roof space
Pantomime
Pantomime
Community Panto
Old waterwheel
Local history museum
Yorkshire Craft Beers
Recent Beans Coffee
Coffee grinding
Heritage Trust volunteers
Mill columns enable service connections
